The Creative Lives of Animals

Happy to include this title in “The Best Books to Gift This Holiday,” the big annual holiday gift books package in The Globe and Mail, Canada’s national newspaper (Nov 19 2022 print edition, also online).

This is an original take on animal behavior. The author examines the work of established Ethologists and asks how their findings apply to creativity. Along with language, this has been seen as exclusively human but, as Gigliotti explains, there are many examples of creativity in animals. There is music and architecture created by mammals and birds, but also insects and fish. Much of the content was familiar to me, since I read everything I can find on animal behavior, but its innovative approach makes it stand out. I enjoyed the anecdotes and specific examples and only wish that there were illustrations. Thankfully, the internet allowed me to look these up (the nests of Corolla spiders or the mating dance of the bird of paradise are magnificent). The more scientific parts were a little dry and hard to understand for me. Animal lovers will enjoy this read.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#NYU Press!

This book was a really fascinating synthesis of scientific studies and a personal perspective on creativity. It wasn't a traditional zoological non-fiction read and that's partly why I enjoyed it. I love reading zoological works of non-fiction, but this one felt distinctly different and unique. It has a different perspective professionally, but it still relies heavily on academic studies and information. I love the blend of art and science being discussed. I also love how in-depth this goes into discussion about animal intelligence and behavior. I would definitely recommend this to readers who are creative, but love animals - or zoological non-fiction fans who don't mind reading an analytical book from a non-zoologist.

A book detailing the creativity and art of all sorts of animals, whether it be song, dance, or home decor. All of creation is either art or artist.

This was an interesting and different way to look at animals and their lives. I enjoyed seeing them in this new way. I found the studies easy to follow and it was an enjoyable read all round.

Highly recommend this one! This was my first book to read by this author but definitely won't be my last. The characters will stay with you long after you finish the book and you will find yourself wishing the story would never end.

The following review will be posted on Tuesday, November 8th, 2 weeks before publication. The link provided won’t work until said date. This review will be shared on Twitter and Instagram between November 8th and the publication date (Tuesday, November 22nd), but the review has already been posted on Goodreads. The blog post includes links to pre-order the books and to its Goodreads page, so readers can add it to their to-be-read books.




“We do not give meaning to the lives of animals; they are able and willing to do that themselves. They plan their future, build their homes, fabricate bowers for their beloveds, defend themselves from predators they fear, (…). Their lives have meaning for them. To their detriment and ours, we have until recently dismissed and neglected the critical importance of that knowledge.”

Genre: Science, Nonfiction
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Spicy Meter: N/A
Content Warning: N/A

The number of science books I read in comparison to the number of fiction books I read is basically negligible. I think that’s because I already work in a science-focused area, and it’s easier to escape the pressures of being a marine zoologist by reading about made up worlds where people live extraordinarily different lives from what I’ve experienced in mine. But a science book here and there usually doesn’t disappoint.

Just by reading the premise and the introduction to this book, I was instantly reminded of Frans de Waals’s “Are We Smart Enough To Know How Smart Animals Are?”, which is one of my all-time favorite animal behaviour books. So it was no surprise to see Carol Gigliotti quoting this same book later on, on her first chapter.

Written under different prompts, this book will give you a glimpse, both through theory and case studies, into why animals do the things they do. Discussing topics like animal intelligence, communication, building, amongst other things that make animals different, yes, but not necessarily superior, to humans.

This is a well-researched, but heavy read. I would only recommend this book to readers interested in biology, ecology, and animal behaviour. If these aren’t amongst your interests, you might find this book a bit boring. In my case, it served as a reminder of why I love my field of study and why I do what I do and study what I study.

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ARC provided by NetGalley and NYU Press in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: November 22, 2022

I thought this was quite interesting and well-researched. I learned a lot, and while the research and findings will evolved over time, this is a nice set of highlights of what is currently known about animals and their creativity. Recommended.

Thanks very much for the free ARC for review!!